Filter



March's, 1938.

l J. W. FYlTZ GERALD FILTER Filed May 13, 1955 latented Mar. 8, 1938 l y y,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'FILTER John w. Fitz Gerald, Milwaukee, wis., signor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application May 13, 1935,y Serial No. 21,281 9 Claims. (Cl. 21o-131) 'Ihis invention relates to certain new and use- The accompanying drawing illustrates two comful improvements in lters and refers more parplete examples f the physical embodiment 0f the ticularly to a removable cartridge type oil lter invention constructed accordingtothe best modes for use with automobile engines and the like. s0 far devised for the practical application of the 'I'he replaceable cartridge type of illter is in Principles thereof, and in Which! 5 considerable use particularly on truck engines Figure lis a view Partly in eleVatlOll and Partly and the type generally employed has a, removable in transverse section of an oil lter embodying Outer shell or casing. Upon removal of this this invention and illustrating the manner of conouter shell or casing, access is had to the filter necting the Same With the lubricating System 0f material or cartridge which in many instances all internal CQmblISlfiOll engine; y10

consists merely of a mass of cotton waste, 4so that Figure 2 iS a CI'OSS Section VleW- taken thlOllSh the illter material may be readily removed and Figure 1 on the plane 0f the lille 2-22 replaced with a fresh cartridge or quantity of Figure 3 ls a detail cross section view through waste when found desirable. V Figure 1 0n the plane of the line 3 4: lo In the past, the construction of these replace- Figure 4 is a section view through the filter on 1Q able lters has been such that thefull pressure a reduced Scale Showing the marmer 0f relodlus of the lubricant which is as high .as thirty or the Same; and forty pounds per square inch, was imposed on the Figure 5 is a vertical section view through a gasketed joint between the outer shell or casing muded form Of this inVeniOIland its seat. Consequently, an expensive gasket Referring now more particularly to the acwm- 2o e construction had to be provided and invariably, panying drawing in which like numerals indinotwithstanding the provision of elaborate gas- Cate likev parts thlughollt the Several VCWS the ket means, leakage at this point could not be numeral 5 designates the crank case of a conprevented. ventional-lnternal combustion engine. only a por- A This condition obviously was objectionable, and tion 0f which is illustrated. 25 it is `therefore an object of the present invention In heavy duty engines, such as used in trucks, to provide an oil lter of the character described the oil filter is usually mounted directly on one which is so constructed that the full pressure of wall of the crank case, as shown in Figure 1. To the system is not applied onthe gasketed joint mount the filter from the wall of the crank case between the shell or cover and its seat. Asa as shown, the crank, case is provided with a 30 result, leakage at this point can be successfully mounting pad 6 to the outer face of which a prevented without expensive gasket means. bracket 1 is secured. Two ports I and 9 pass More specii'lcally'lt is an object of this inventhrough the crank case wall at the vpad I. One tion to provide an oil filter of the character deof these ports is connected with an' oil pump Ill scribed which is so constructed that all portions through a pipe line I I, and the other provides 35 thereof subjected to the full pressure of the sysa return to the crank case for Ailtered lubricant. tem have permanent joints so as to preclude the The oil pump is also connected with a pipe line development of leaks either as a result of normal I2, which supplies the lubricating system (not usage or removal and replacement of the filter shown) with the major portion of the oil being 4o material. pumped. The remaining portion is shunted' 4o Another object of this invention is toprovide a through the pipe line II to the port l, to be 'llter of the character described which is so conforced through the lter, indicated generally by structed that reloading thereof is a simple matter. the numeral I3, and returned to the crank case A further object of this yinvention isto prosupply through the port 9. vide a novel method of reloading the illter with The bracket I has a passage Il which aligns 45 a fresh cartridge or lter mass. with and forms substantially an extension of the With the above and other objects ln view which port 8 to communicate the same with a central will appear as thefdescriptlon proceeds, this inbore I5 extending vertically through the bracket. ventlon resides ln the novel construction, comthe lower end of the bore being closed by a rebination and arrangement of parts substantially movable drain plug Il'. 'Ihe upper end of the 50 as hereinafter described and more particularly bore I5 opens to the interior of an inner shell defined by the appended claims, it being under;` I6 which consists of a' cylinder extending up from stood that such changes in the precise embodithe bracket and having lts lower end permanently ment of the herein fdlsclosed invention may be secured thereto in any desired manner, as by bemade as come within the scope of the claims, ing Welded directly to the'top of the bracket.

This vcylindrical inner shell |B contains the filter cartridge which in the present instance consists merely of a quantity of cotton waste I1. To insure proper distribution of oil through the lter mass, perforated caps I6' and I1' are disposed at the bottom and near the top of the shell I6, respectively. At diametrically opposite points, the upper portion of the open top of the shell has o-blong slots or openings I8 to receive the end portions of a cross bar I9. The cross bar I9 through itsl contact withtheperforated cap I1 serves to hold the filterk mass down in the inner shell I6 andalso provides means for removably holding an outer shell or cover 20 in place. 1' v The outer shell or cover 28 isvalso cylindrical and telescopes down over theinner shell IG 'with a clearance space 2l therebetween. The top of the cover is closed by a wall 22 and the bottomthereof is open and sets on a gasket 23 encircling the inner shell and resting on the bracket 1.

An annular upstanding flange 24 extending up from the bracket encircles the gasket 23 and the lower portion of the housing nr outer shell 2li. The cover or outer shell is held down onto the gasket 23 by a cap screw 25 inserted through a hole in the top wall 22 of the cover and threaded into the cross bar I9.

The clearance space 2| between the inner shell and the cover is communicated with the bore 9 and consequently the crank 'case 'of the engine through aligned openings 261 and 21 in the gasket 23 and the adjacent portion ofthe bracket 1,

respectively, which opening 21 leads toa stub bore 28 forming substantially a continuation of thev .port 9.

In operation the oil is pumped up into the filter through the central bore I and after passing freely up through the clean lter mass kI1 flows down the annular spaceQZI between the inner shell and the cover to be discharged through the openings 26 and 21 and the bore 28 and port 9 back to the cranl; case of the engine. Obviously, the fluid pressure at theupper end of the lter, and 'consequently the pressure on the gasket 23, is not the full pressure of the system as the force of the pressure is spent to a considerable degree by the reaction of the i'llter mass retarding the flow of oil therethrough.

The reaction of the filter mass sets up stress which heretofore was imposed on the outer shell or cover and its gasketedjoints. This stress was increased considerably as the filter mass became dirty and clogged. In the present invention the stress incidental to the reaction of`the filter mass is carried entirely by the inner shell and the cross bar I9, thus relieving the outer shell and the gasket 23 of any pressure. Hence, itis possible to obtain a simple leak proof connection between the cover and the bracket 1 without resorting to expensive and elaborate gasketing means.

Another advantage of the present construction is that it facilitates reloading of the unit, and in Figure 4 a novel method of reloading is illustrated.

To replace the used filter material with a fresh mass of waste, thecover 2D is rst removed by loosening the screw 25 and then the cross-bar I9 and the perforated cap I1 are entirely removed. This permits unobstructed access to the interior of the filter so `that the used lter material may be easily removed. After the used filter material is withdrawn from the inner` vshell I6, a fieSl-l cartridge or charge of filtermaterial is inserted,

This cartridge or charge of filter material is packaged in a' paper tube-like container 30 of substantially the same diameter'as the inner shell I6 and provided at one end with a sleeve 3| adapted to be telescoped over the inner shell I6, as shown in Figure 4. The end walls of the package are both removable so that when the tube 30 is placed over the open end of the inner shell IE, as shown in Figure4, the contentsv thereof may be easily pushed down into the inner shell, as will be readily apparent.

With the new filter material in place, the perforated cap I1' andthe cross bar` I9 are replaced and then merely by the simplel expedient of telescoping the cover\20 over the inner shell and securing the same in place by means of the screw 25, the unit is again ready for service. As indicated hereinbefore, the embodiment illustrated in Figures l, 2, 3 and4 isprimarily y adapted for use with heavy duty engines as found in automotive trucks. The same principle, however, is readily applicable to the type of filter used inpassenger automobiles and in Figure 5 the application thereof to this type of filter is illustrated.

I n this modified embodiment of the invention;

an outer cylindrical shell 35 having its bottom closed by a wall 36 and its open top closed by a cover 31 detachably held in place forms the outer enclosure for the unit. v

The bottom wall 36 is provided with an inlet port 38 and an 'outlet port 39.' Disposed within the outer container 35 is an inner'shell 4Il`which.v

also has a closed bottom wall 4I ilrmly and permanently connected to the nipple providing4 the inlet port 38. The connection between the inner shell 4I! and the outer enclosure is such that .a clearance space is .left between the same, not only at its sides but also a the bottom thereof.

As in the embodiment pre iously`described, the inner shell contains amass of filter material 42 and if desired, a perforated spacer 43 may be provided to hold the mass of lter material from the bottom 4I of the inner shell. Another per-A forated spacer 43 may be located at the top end of the iilter mass.

A cross bar 44 is also provided, which like the between the open end of the outer container and the cover, which corresponds to the gas ket 23.

The cap' screw 45 in order to provide an outlet for the ltered material located at the upper end of the unit has a longitudinal bore '41 connected at its inner end with cross bores 48 so that the v longitudinal bore 41y will be' communicated with the vspace above the illter mass.

A plug 49 normally closes the outer end of lthe bore41, which, when the upper discharge port is to be used, is removed and inserted in the discharge port 39.

The mode of operation in this construction is identical with that'of the first described embodi.

ment of the invention; that is, the lubricant to be filtered is lshunted from the line leading to the lubricating system up into the inner shell and forced up through the filter mass to be discharged into the space between the inner shellvand its outer container from which it flows either through the upper discharge port or the lower discharge port, as convenience may dictate, to the crank case supply.

As before, the stress incidental to the reaction of the filter mass ls carried by the inner shell and the cross bar 44 relieving any pressure on the outer shell or its gasket 46, and precluding leakage at this point. The refilling or reloading of the filter is accomplished in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to 4those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that this invention provides a filter of thereplaceable cartridge type which by reason of its novel construction entirely overcomes the heretofore objectionable feature of this type of filter, namely, the

difficulty of maintaining a leak proof connection between the outer cover and its seat.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an oil filter for use in connection with a force feed lubricating system of an internal combustion engine, an inner shell having an open end and a, closed end, a filter mass in the inner shell and readily removable therefrom through its open end, means for yenclosing the inner shell and including a removable cover disposed over the open `end of the inner shell, and means for detachably securing said covervin place comprising a cross bar removably connected with the open end portion of the inner shell and extending across the open end thereof to hold the filter mass in place, and screw means passing through the cover and threaded in said cross bar.

2. In an oil filter for use in connection with a force feed lubricating system of an internal combustion engine, an inner shell having a closed end and an open end, a filter mass in the inner shell and readily removable therefrom through its open end, an outer enclosure for the inner shell adapted to receive fiuid filtered by passage through the filter mass and discharged from the inner shell through its open end, said outer enclosure including a. cover, and means for detachably holding the cover in place comprising a cross bar having its ends detachably` connected with the open end portion of the inner shell to extend across the open end of the inner shell and hold the filter mass therein, and screw means engaging the cover and threaded in said cross bar.

3. An oil filter for use in connection with a force feed lubricating system of an internal combustion engine comprising, a base, an inner shell fixedly mounted on the base with its bottom v closed by the base. the top of the inner shell being open, a filter mass in said inner shell and readily removable therefrom through its open top, a cover telescoped over the inner shell in spaced relation thereto with its periphery seated on th'e base, gasket meansbetween the periphery of the cover and the base to prevent leakage therebetween, means having a readily detachable connection with the open end of the inner shell for detachably securing the cover in position and for transmitting any stress imposed on the cover in a direction tending to unseat the same from the base to the inner shell, an inlet port `for fluid under pressure leading through the base from the force feed lubricating system directly into the lower portion of the inner shell to conduct fluid to be filtered under pressure into the inner shell for forced passage upwardly through the filter mass to be discharged into the space between the cover and the inner shell through the open top of the inner shell, and an outlet port for filtered fiuid leading from the interior of the cover into the crank case of the engine.

4. An oil filter for` use in connection with a force feed lubricating system of an internal combustion engine comprising, a base attached to the crank case of the engine and having an upstanding annular fiange, a cylinder secured to the top of the base inside and spaced from said annular flange, the top of said cylinder being open, a filter mass within the cylinder, a cover telescoped down over the cylinder in spaced relationship thereto with its lower peripheral edge portion received snugly within said annular flange, gasket means between said lower peripheral edge portion of the cover and the base to prevent leakage therebetween, means for removably securing the cover in place comprising a cross bar having its ends readily detachably connected with the open topped portion of the cylinder and extending lacross the open top thereof to hold the filter mass therein, screw means connected with the cover and threaded in the cross bar, an inlet in the base leading from the force feed lubricating system directly into the lower portion of the cylinder for conducting fluid under Ipressure to the filter mass to be filtered thereby in its forced passage through the filter lmass to the open top of the cylinder, and an outlet in the base leading from the space between the cover and cylinder into the crank case of the engine for conducting filtered fluid from the interior of the cover to the crank case.

5. In a filter of the character described, an

' outer shell having a closed bottom and an open top, an inner shell telescoped within the outer shell in spaced relationshipthereto and having a closed bottom and an open top, common means for connecting the inner shell and outer shell vat their closed bottoms and for providing an inlet port to the inner shell, a Vfilter mass within the inner shell and readily removable therefrom through the open top thereof, a cover closing the cuter shell and disposed over the open top of the inner shell, means for removably securing the cover in place comprising a cross bar having its ends detachably connected with the upper open end portion of the inner shell, screw means connected with the cover and threaded in said cross bar, said screw means being bored to provide an outlet port leading from the interior of the space between the outer enclosure provided by the cover and outer shell for filtered fluid, and an auxiliary outlet through thc closed bottom of the outer shell.

6. An oil filter for use in connection with a force feed lubricating system of an internal combustion system comprising a shell closed on all sides except one, a filter mass in said shell, said filter mass being readily insertable and removable through the open side of the shell, inlet means for connecting the interior of the shell With the force feed lubricating system of the engine to conduct oil to be filtered to the shell for forced passage through the filter mass toward the open end of the shell, an exterior wall fixed with rrspect to the shell, a cover for'closing the open side of the shell, and Aadapted to have a uid tight connection between the cover and said fixed wall, said fixed wall and thecover together forming an means for readily detachably holding the cover shell adjacent the open end thereof, a cover to 10 in place so that any force imposed on the cover close the open end of the shell and receive filtered and tending to unseat it from said fixed wall is kfluid discharged from the open end of 'the shell, carried by said stress` carrying means. an outlet for conducting filtered uid from the '1. An oil filter for use in connection with a cover to the crankcase of the engine, and means forced feed lubricating system of an internal engaged with the cross bar for holding the cover 15 combustion engine comprising, a container havin place. ing an open end, aiilter mass in the container, 9. An oil filter for use in connection with an said filter mass being readily insertable and reinternal combustion engine comprising an inner movable through the open end thereof, inlet shell closed at one end and open at the other end,

means for introducing fluid to be filtered from a filter mass in said shell readily insertable and 20 the force feed system into the container for removable therefrom through its open end, means forced passage through the filter mass toward the supported solely from the open end portion of the open end thereof, such forced passage of the fluid shell for holding the filter mass therein, ari outerV through the filter mass tending to push the same' enclosure encasing the inner shell consisting of out through the open end of the container, means separable parts one of which forms a removable 25 supported entirely by the container to hold the cover to afford access to the inner shell for infilter mass against being pushed from the open sertion and removal of the filter mass, said other end thereof, and an exterior cover seat fixed with pari; being fixed with respect t0 the inner Shell, respect to the Container, a COVeI member fOr the means anchored to the shell and independent of open end of the Container. Said COVeI' member said fixed part of the outer enclosure for readily 30 engaging Said Seat end eoeperating therewith to detachably holding the cover part in place, and proflde a chamber mto which the filtered fluid means for connecting the interior of the closed ghgggnlglooqtg tlgirgni end portion of the inner shell With the pressure 36 readily detachably holding the cover in place and Sidei of te fgrufedblcagxg fsystehof the 35 for transmitting any stress imposed on the cover eng ne w ere y o o tere s ome rough* in a direction tending to unseat the same to the the inter mass to the open end of the lter Shen container and an Outlet leading from Said charm so as to leave the inner shell and enter the outer ber to the Crank Case of the engrm enclosure at greatly reduced pressure to obviate 40 8. An oil filter for use in connection with a the necessity fer a complicated fluid tigheseal 40 force feed lubricating system of Van internal combetween the Complementary Dartsv 0f the Outer bustion engine comprising a shell composed of enclosure, and a return for filtered fiuid leading rigidly and permanently connected walls and from the outer enclosure to the crank case of open at one end, afilter mass in the shell, said the engine. d

filter mass being readily insertable and removable 4U enclosure for the shell and providing a closed chamber for receiving filtered fluid which has been forced through the filter mass, outlet means for'conducting filtered fluid from said chamber to the crank case of the engine, means supported entirely from said shell and disposed at the open end of the shell to carry the stress incidental to the forced passage of the fluid through the filter mass, and means engaged with said last named .from the shell through the open end thereof,

means to conduct fluid under pressure into the inner shell for forced passage through the filter v,

mass toward the open end of the shell,v such forced passage of the fluid through the filter mass tending to push the filter mass out through the open end of the shell, means to hold the filter mass in the shell including a stiff cross bar having a detachable connection with the walls of the JOHN W. FI'IZ GERALD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2, 110,121+o lllarch 8, 1958- JOHN w. FITZ GERALD.

y It ishereby` certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 75, claim 6, strike out the words "and adapted to have"; and

that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Off'ice.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of April, -An .Do 1958. y

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seel) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

means for readily detachably holding the cover shell adjacent the open end thereof, a cover to 10 in place so that any force imposed on the cover close the open end of the shell and receive filtered and tending to unseat it from said fixed wall is kfluid discharged from the open end of 'the shell, carried by said stress` carrying means. an outlet for conducting filtered uid from the '1. An oil filter for use in connection with a cover to the crankcase of the engine, and means forced feed lubricating system of an internal engaged with the cross bar for holding the cover 15 combustion engine comprising, a container havin place. ing an open end, aiilter mass in the container, 9. An oil filter for use in connection with an said filter mass being readily insertable and reinternal combustion engine comprising an inner movable through the open end thereof, inlet shell closed at one end and open at the other end,

means for introducing fluid to be filtered from a filter mass in said shell readily insertable and 20 the force feed system into the container for removable therefrom through its open end, means forced passage through the filter mass toward the supported solely from the open end portion of the open end thereof, such forced passage of the fluid shell for holding the filter mass therein, ari outerV through the filter mass tending to push the same' enclosure encasing the inner shell consisting of out through the open end of the container, means separable parts one of which forms a removable 25 supported entirely by the container to hold the cover to afford access to the inner shell for infilter mass against being pushed from the open sertion and removal of the filter mass, said other end thereof, and an exterior cover seat fixed with pari; being fixed with respect t0 the inner Shell, respect to the Container, a COVeI member fOr the means anchored to the shell and independent of open end of the Container. Said COVeI' member said fixed part of the outer enclosure for readily 30 engaging Said Seat end eoeperating therewith to detachably holding the cover part in place, and proflde a chamber mto which the filtered fluid means for connecting the interior of the closed ghgggnlglooqtg tlgirgni end portion of the inner shell With the pressure 36 readily detachably holding the cover in place and Sidei of te fgrufedblcagxg fsystehof the 35 for transmitting any stress imposed on the cover eng ne w ere y o o tere s ome rough* in a direction tending to unseat the same to the the inter mass to the open end of the lter Shen container and an Outlet leading from Said charm so as to leave the inner shell and enter the outer ber to the Crank Case of the engrm enclosure at greatly reduced pressure to obviate 40 8. An oil filter for use in connection with a the necessity fer a complicated fluid tigheseal 40 force feed lubricating system of Van internal combetween the Complementary Dartsv 0f the Outer bustion engine comprising a shell composed of enclosure, and a return for filtered fiuid leading rigidly and permanently connected walls and from the outer enclosure to the crank case of open at one end, afilter mass in the shell, said the engine. d

filter mass being readily insertable and removable 4U enclosure for the shell and providing a closed chamber for receiving filtered fluid which has been forced through the filter mass, outlet means for'conducting filtered fluid from said chamber to the crank case of the engine, means supported entirely from said shell and disposed at the open end of the shell to carry the stress incidental to the forced passage of the fluid through the filter mass, and means engaged with said last named .from the shell through the open end thereof,

means to conduct fluid under pressure into the inner shell for forced passage through the filter v,

mass toward the open end of the shell,v such forced passage of the fluid through the filter mass tending to push the filter mass out through the open end of the shell, means to hold the filter mass in the shell including a stiff cross bar having a detachable connection with the walls of the JOHN W. FI'IZ GERALD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2, 110,121+o lllarch 8, 1958- JOHN w. FITZ GERALD.

y It ishereby` certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 75, claim 6, strike out the words "and adapted to have"; and

that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Off'ice.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of April, -An .Do 1958. y

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seel) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

